APRIL/MAY 2001
LEADING PHYLOGENETICIST COMES TO FSU
Talk to David Swofford and he'll cheerfully discuss his wife, their delight in the cultural life in Washington, D.C. or his enthusiasm for bicycling.
But this research biologist will reveal precious little of his scientific accomplishment.
"He's very unassuming, the most modest person for a man of his stature that I have ever met," said Scott Steppan, an FSU biologist. "He is one of the two or three leading phylogeneticists in the world."
For about three years, Steppan and Swofford worked together at the Smithsonian studying molecular systematics, a branch of science that centers on the origin and makeup of organisms.
In a few months, the two will be working together again because, beginning this summer, Swofford will join the prestigious line-up of Eppes professors at FSU.
His coming is a coup for FSU, Steppan said.
"It's important to FSU in terms of elevating its status
around the nation. It will give FSU a presence internationally,"
Steppan said. "He will immediately turn FSU into a center
for phylogenetic analysis."
As an Eppes professor, Swofford will teach a graduate course
while working on his research.
The primary focus of Swofford's research at FSU will be in Computational Science and Information Technology, an innovative department that integrates mathematics, computer science, biology, chemistry, physics and social sciences.
"He writes software programs that people like me use
to analyze their data," Steppan said.
Swofford says he will be "pushing the frontiers of what
you can do with computers to solve the mysteries of science."
"It's kind of what I've done throughout my career," he said, "biology on the one hand, mathematics and computer science on the other."
Swofford, a native of Alaska, grew up in Lexington, Ky., and began his scientific studies at Eastern Kentucky University.
At first he was interested in ichthyology. But he later moved into phylogenetics and computer science. In 1986, he earned a Ph.D. in genetics and development at the University of Illinois.
He has traveled all over the world making invited presentations, delivering lectures and giving seminars and workshops. He has published many papers, including some heavily cited and influential book chapters on phylogenetic analysis methodology. Swofford also developed two major computer program packages for phylogenetic analysis and systematic research.
Ruth, Swofford's wife, works at the National Institutes of
Health as a highly specialized technician.
When considering the move to Tallahassee, Swofford said he and
his wife thought the city might be too much of a shift from the
big-city offerings of Washington, D.C. But Swofford said he and
Ruth no longer worry.
"Tallahassee's really got a lot more going on than I
realized in the beginning," he said.
One of the most appealing aspects of the move, Swofford said,
will be a chance for him to have a "short bike ride"
to campus. His love for cycling has been put aside somewhat because
the distance from his home outside Washington makes it impossible
for him to ride to work at the Smithsonian laboratory in Maryland.
One of the pleasures the Swoffords worried they might miss in Tallahassee is music. Steppan said that rather than heady discussions of biological research, the Swoffords are more apt to have deep dinner discussions on blues and jazz. In fact, Steppan said, for a while Swofford was a serious keyboardist with a band.
Swofford is so interested in blues, Steppan said, that he once commented he could never accept a position in Chicago because he was afraid that being that close to the active Chicago blues scene would hamper his work ethic. - Dana Peck
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